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Posted by Chopper on 2007-05-14 10:38:40 +0000

So few have listened to this album. Featuring more of Bowie's own compositions, the album certainly has a greater degree of originality than its predecessor, Tonight. Bowie does sound like Bowie. But I believe musically, the music is a "sounds of the times" offering. Much of the experimentation of past years are gone. Make no mistake, this album is very "80's." On of my favorite Bowie accompanists, Erdal Kizilcay, has a big effect on the record: synthesizer, funk bass, and synthesized drums ("New York's In Love"). There's not much more to say, because every song sounds the same - maybe a little slower (like the title track), maybe a little "harder" ("Day-in Day-out" and "Bang Bang"), but that is about it. The only exception here is the poem that begins "Glass Spider," a la Diamond Dog's "Future Legend." Other tracks like "Zeroes," have been augmented with crowd noises and other foreign instrumentation, but still are just "more of the same." But a Bowie fan is a Bowie fan. And the man's voice is in as good a form as it ever had been. The single "Time Will Crawl" is a decent rocker with lots of guitar riffs. Lots of guitar on the record, e.g., the tune, "'87 And Cry" are played by old favorite Carlos Alomar (rhythm guitar) and Peter Frampton (lead guitar). Overall, this record garnered some of the harshest criticism of Bowie's career to date. I remember once reading that Bowie himself apologized in an interview for the album being so bad (although I will note the enormous tour that backed it was a financial success). Never doubt Bowie's love of money.

Posted by MF DU on 2007-05-14 10:43:59 +0000

I saw a filmed concert from the "Glass Spider" tour on Bravo or A+E on cable once - very theatrical - it was like a pop/rock/ ballet opera - a little awkward and hard to watch, yet interesting IMHO.

Posted by deejayhubris on 2007-05-14 14:01:02 +0000

I dropped out w/Tonight...